Jan. 29, 2014

Robinson

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UPDATE: 10:50 a.m.

Students at McGavock High School came together Wednesday, the day before a high-profile presidential visit, to mourn the loss of a sophomore who was shot dead in Hermitage Tuesday night.

Officials have sent grief counselors into the school, but preparation is still underway for President Barack Obama’s visit Thursday afternoon.

Police say Kevin Barbee, 15, was shot Tuesday night by his friend and classmate Kaemon Robinson, 17, in a Hermitage apartment. Robinson was taken into custody and charged with criminal homicide hours afterward.

Witnesses told police that Robinson was playing with a pistol in an apartment on Burning Tree Drive when it fired, striking Barbee in the face.

Barbee was rushed to Summit Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Robinson had fled from the apartment by the time investigators arrived, police said.

Late last night, Robinson’s lawyer contacted police saying that Robinson wanted to surrender. Robinson would not talk to investigators after he was taken into custody at his apartment.

Robinson and Barbee both lived in the Burning Tree Drive apartment complex, but they were in a friend’s apartment at the time of the shooting, according to police spokesman Don Aaron. Two young adults witnessed the shooting.

“To truly further the investigation we need to hear from him – as a person who was handling the gun – exactly what took place,” Aaron said.

Police had not found the firearm Wednesday, Aaron said. He did not know whose it was.

Metro Schools has issued a statement calling Barbee‘s death a “great tragedy.”

“We are very saddened to learn about the death of a McGavock High School student last night,” the district said in a statement on its Facebook page. “This young man’s life was just getting started, and his passing is a great tragedy.”

Fred Carr, Metro’s chief operating officer, said Obama’s appearance would be taking place as originally planned.